New Documentary Examines The Lives Of Porn Stars

FILES - Picture taken 25 January 2006 shows a police officer of Germany's State Office of Criminal Investigation (LKA) viewing files on a computer in connection with child pornography investigations in the northern German city of Hanover. The Police in Berlin informed 25 December 2007 they were continuing their investigations in the largest case of child pornography to date with more than 12,000 suspects. AFP PHOTO DDP/JOCHEN LUEBKE GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read JOCHEN LUEBKE/AFP/Getty Images)(Photo credit: JOCHEN LUEBKE/AFP/Getty Images)

So did Deborah Anderson, that’s why she made a documentary and fine-art photography book on the subject. “Aroused” opens in select theaters Thursday and is available for download on iTunes. The book is available on Amazon.

Many of the 16 adult-film actresses featured in “Aroused” attended the film’s premiere Wednesday night at the Landmark Theatre and hung around afterward to autograph the coffee-table book.

Anderson was inspired to explore these women’s stories after casting a porn star in a photo shoot for a magazine. She was struck by the woman’s warm personality and her stories of harsh treatment from the public despite contributing to a widely consumed product of a billion-dollar industry.

The porn stars in the film don’t see themselves as failed actresses. They say they enjoy their work and see off-duty sex as having nothing to do with their day jobs. All say they’ve had sexually transmitted diseases. Most share concern for how others view their profession and worry whether this could impede future job or romantic prospects.

Anderson said she hopes the book and film will spotlight the humanity of these women and the sensuality of their work.